Wednesday, 8 August 2018

OPPOSITION Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa yesterday said the
country urgently requires a transitional authority to help resolve the current
political impasse, where MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has
disputed President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in the July 30 harmonised
elections.

Dabengwa told Southern Eye that the ongoing haggling
between Zanu PF and MDC Alliance over election results were hurting the economy
and creating unnecessary political tension.

“The people of Zimbabwe have been resilient for over 38
years of oppression and dictatorial rule by the Robert Mugabe regime. They
deserve a space of fresh air, hence, they were calling for a fresh start during
the November 17, 2017, mass demonstration in Harare,” he said.

“I personally think the best way foward would be to
establish a transitional authority which will be a buffer to protect the people
of Zimbabwe. We select technocrats, even among the political parties, to work
with the transitional authority.”

Dabengwa said people did not have trust in the new
government even before it was sworn-in.

“Investors have already thrown doubts that it (Zimbabwe)
would be the best destination (in which) to put their money,” he said. “We,
therefore, need to come up with a fresh start that would give confidence to
both population and international community.”

The intelligence supremo said there were many qualified,
neutral and independent-thinking people in Zimbabwe who could be entrusted to
lead the transitional arrangement.

The Zapu leader also condemned the military’s
heavy-handedness in crushing last week’s demonstrations by MDC Alliance
activists.

“For some of us with a military background, it is
absolutely inconceivable that anyone would resort to the use of the army with
automatic weapons and armed personal carriers over demonstrators whose numbers
could have been managed by the police,” Dabengwa said.

“These were peaceful demonstrators that were not carrying
anything. If the police felt that their numbers were inadequate to disperse the
crowd, they could have employed water cannons, which they have used before in
demonstrations.” Newsday